We know that early intervention works. In public service after public service, it is acknowledged that a pound spent on prevention or early intervention ends up saving the government money in the long term.

But long-term thinking is hard to find in an age of austerity – and early intervention programmes across the board are feeling the strain. Back in 2011, when Labour MP Graham Allen published a government-commissioned report into early intervention programmes for young children, the government stressed that no funding would be forthcoming.

Figures from the Department for Education, Home Office and Ministry of Justice may show that spending for early action programmes has stayed constant, at about £12bn in 2011-12, but 90% of local councils will suffer a 6% cut in funding for early intervention services such as nursery places and Sure Start centres from 2013-14, according to the Local Government Chronicle.

In January, a National Audit Office report of early intervention concluded that a concerted shift away from reactive spending towards early action had potential to improve outcomes and value for money, but there has been little evidence of a concerted shift in resources. That, said Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, is symptomatic of "short-term thinking, a lack of integration in many areas and poor evidence gathering".